“Not all systems can do all things. There are driving scenarios that automatic emergency braking systems are not designed to address.”

Although Tesla’s autopilot was not to blame for the death of this driver, it does illustrate one of the biggest challenges car makers will have to face going forward as they work to bring self-driving cars to market.

Most car manufacturers are envisioning a gradual path to self-driving capabilities, selling cars with increasingly sophisticated driver-assistance features over a period of a few years before ultimately introducing fully self-driving autonomous cars with no pedals or steering wheel.

But there’s a danger that people will trust the technology too quickly, as Brown did. After hundreds or even thousands of miles of flawless driving, people could stop paying attention to the road, with deadly consequences.

The motor Industry’s answers to what makes driverless cars safer to drive reveal a lot about how we already drive and how easy it us to become dependent on a new technology.

(As always, if you or a family member are considering buying a used car, don’t buy until you run a car check report with MyVehicle.ie where you will find out the true history of the vehicle.)